Guide to Nightlife in Puerto de la Cruz

You might think this is going to be a short guide, especially if you believe some travel articles/forums which seem to believe that nightlife in Puerto de la Cruz consists of plazas from which to watch the world go by and a couple of sedate British bars.

It’s true El Puerto in the north of Tenerife isn’t a centre that’s ideal for young Brits looking for other young Brits and familiar bars playing familiar music. But neither is it sleepy town. Puerto de la Cruz boasts a diverse nightlife to suit varying tastes and age groups (although ageism in bars doesn’t exist here so you can go wherever takes your fancy without fear of a ‘look’). There’s certainly enough to draw hordes of young locals from the surrounding valley during the weekends.

Early Doors
Sitting in a plaza watching the world parade by is a very relaxing way to ease into the evening and to get to know the town. Bar Dinámico in Plaza Charco is probably top choice as local life resolves around this large leafy plaza. The bar has live music, as does nearby Compostelana. However, the quality varies and styles shift from ‘middle of the road crowdpleasers’ to Spanish. Okay if you’re a Baby Boomer but Generation X and above might find it dated. Café Paris and Café de la Noche on Avenida Colón attract a mature clientele and are in a super position for watching ‘promenaders’.

The Ebáno Café on Plaza Iglesia is a stylish and elegant alternative with occasional weddings to add interest and a backdrop of soothing Spanish music from the Hotel Marquesa on the other side of the plaza adding a suitable soundtrack.

More tucked away is the creative Agora Bar in lovely little Plaza Benito Perez Galdez in the fishermen’s district.

From Nine till Midnight
This can be a quiet period with locals even though it is the busy period with visiting Northern Europeans in the winter months.

We like to head to Calle Agustin de Bethencourt just behind the harbour. There are a handful of stylish bars on this narrow street that are perfect for just taking it easy. La Maison Belge is also an off licence selling Belgian beers whilst La Ventita doubles as a deli and serves tapas to pick at with your copa de vino. There’s a really nice local vibe on this small street.

For fans of live music, Irish bar Molly Malone’s near the harbour is popular with the more mature British crowd whilst getting a seat at La Tejas Verde on Puerto Viejo, Spanish sounds, isn’t easy due to its popularity. Take a taxi out of town to one of the most striking cocktail bars on Tenerife. Abaco is located in an 18th century mansion, a rather grand venue for live jazz sessions.

If it’s sport you’re after, then take your pick of any number of bars screening Spanish football matches but for English Premier league games and international sporting events it has to be The Beehive on Calle La Hoya.

After Midnight
This is when the liveliest bars really get going and many visitors who’ve headed to bed don’t even know they exist. The best bars are in the streets off the main drag in the old town behind Plaza del Charco and the harbour. Some are tucked away in old buildings, their beautiful courtyards concealed from passers by. Names chop and change on a regular basis here but there is always a fabulous selection of interesting and good looking bars. As de Kopas, Elements, Colour Café and Pequeña Buda are attractive, modern bars for a cocktail before heading to Blanco Bar (great live music ranging from Spanish rock to blues to top class tribute bands), the rammed outdoor terrace at Limbo (DJs and occasional live bands) and sultry and sweaty, Cuban salsa heaven, Azucar.

For a late night dose of excellent traditional folk music Mario’s Bodego, in a narrow alley between Calle La Hoya and Paseo San Telmo, has been a bit of a secret for years. Right in the heart of the most popular tourist part of town, but rarely a mention on Tripadvisor when anyone asks about live music bars.

Clubland
The bars above hit their peaks between midnight and 3am, after that Avenida Familia Bethencourt y Familia is where most of the clubs are located. It’s probably Tenerife’s gay nightlife centre as well. Vampis is the most famous but there are plenty of others on the avenue featuring music ranging from dance to rock to Latino.

Finally Fiestas
It’s a mystery to us but many visitors ignore the regular music festivals that are held beside Casa Aduana on the harbour. Over the year there will be jazz, traditional Canarian, heavy rock, indie rock, Latino and blues with kiosks selling drinks at cheap prices (€1 a cerveza, €3.50 for a spirit and mixer). Invariably the crowds at these will be almost totally locals. Who knows why when they’re free and you get to hear original music.

Sometimes the publicity isn’t great but if you’re around the old town, where the best of the nightlife is to be found, you can’t miss when a festival is being held.

The bottom line with nightlife in Puerto de la Cruz is that if visitors stick to UK hours (hitting bars between 9 and midnight), the chances are they’ll miss the best. Nightlife is geared to the local population, which is perfect for people seeking the real Tenerife.

Jack is co-owner, writer and photographer for BuzzTrips and the Real Tenerife series of travel websites as well as a contributor to online travel sites and travel magazines. Follow Jack on Google+

24 Comments

went by ur advice on Puerto de la cruz what nightlife mollys closes at 11 during the week and on Friday it looks like a pensioners outing all bars by law close at 2 except for a few quiet secret Spanish bars colour café was dead we were the only 2 in it for 3 nights and on sunday its closed and the bee hive good for the football and that’s it

Did you try Limbo, Azucar and Blanco Bar? A couple of other things worth knowing is that as Puerto is a working town, the after dark scene is livelier at weekend. Plus, certain times of year are quieter than others. For example, immediately after carnival the town can be quiet as the locals recover after the week of street parties.

There are a few more not mentioned (bars change on a regular basis) but you have to know where they are as they’re not always obvious.

I’m here now and it’s been pretty boring. I’m not the kind of person that find it easy to approach a stranger for a conversation, but I’m a friendly looking guy that allways get to know people in parties, however I don’t seem to get in contact with anyone here. Also it’s incredibly few people here between 25-35. If there are anyone that read this, is here now, and also feel bored and alone -feel free to respond so we could meet up.

This week is usually a quiet one in traditional areas Will. Although a tourist resort Puerto is first and foremost a Canarian town and the best of the nightlife revolves around the patterns of the younger residents so, like any working towns, weekends are livelier than weekdays. But things do get livelier when the Spanish festive season begins properly (this weekend) although don’t expect a bouncing Christmas Eve, unless you don’t go out to the clubs till after midnight. Another thing to consider is whether you’re looking for other visitors to talk to or locals. During the winter months in most resort areas the average age of visitors goes up and, unlike some southern resorts, there isn’t an after dark scene aimed at visitors under 30. To enjoy lively nightlife you have to fit in with local patterns which means things don’t liven up until around midnight even at the weekend. Go to some of the late bars we’ve mentioned and you’ll find a younger clientele, but it will be mainly a Spanish speaking one.

I couldn’t tell you about halal, but try the Saroj supermarket on Calle Valois. If they don’t have any, they’ll at least know if anywhere does. There are bars/restaurants with shisha. The Al Amir Lebanese restaurant just off Plaza del Charco has them and so does Pequeña Buda on Calle San Juan.

After the all night celebrations, the 1st tends to be a bit of a rest and recovery day for the local population so nothing official takes place. Things will start to liven up again from today for the build up to Los Reyes Magos on the 5th.

with this weekend of Kings & Epiphany will the Sat 7th still be a party night before return to daily work “normality” on Monday 9th Jan?
Can you recommend any Sat 7th night extra special event/venues for this reason?
Mucho Gracias

The festive season of special events ends with the arrival of Los Reyes Magos on the 5th I’m afraid. Basically it will be back to a normal weekend except that with the 6th being a bit like Christmas Day for locals it might be a bit quieter than usual.

Me and some friends are planning to go to Puerto in the beginning of February. How will the nightlife be at that time of the year? It sounds to be good at weekends, but how will it be from Monday-Friday?

I will be heading to Puerto de la Cruz on the 27th to 30th of January. How will the weekend be like and nightlife during that weekend. I will be travelling with my partner. Are there any popular gay club/pubs you can recommend? Are there any water parks with slides example Aqualand near by? will be staying at Hotel Marte.I do not want us to come and be bored. It is a weekend break so I want a full on busy time with loads of things to do.

Hi. I am looking at this place as a possible stag location for around May time next year. There will be between 8 and 10 of us with ages ranging from around 21 to 60, so not looking for an Ibiza or Magaluf style nightlife, but for something that is still lively with a variety for the age range. This post seems to cover this, but could you offer any more of an idea as to if this would suit our group? Cheers 🙂

Probably not an ideal location for a stag do Ben, the nightlife isn’t really suited to stag and hen parties. Bars and clubs are more aimed at the local Canarian population and as a result are quite different than a similar British scene. Playa de las Américas is a far better choice. It’s not what people often portray it as. There are lots of good, fun music bars and decent restaurants that aren’t tacky. The area around the Safari Centre is worth looking at.